Zen in 2010: But 1st, a look back at 2009

It’s been a long two months since I last posted to my blog. During that time, I’ve been spending most spare moments immersed in yoga teacher training, which I completed on 12/28 with a 90 minute practicum. It’s no excuse for putting the blog on the back burner, but this 200 hr certification was actually 435 hours of classes, practice and training! Now that I’m back to blog, I thought I’d kick off the New Year by answering the same questions that got Digging for Fire off the ground: a recap of 2009 to bring focus for 2010 goal setting.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Yoga teacher training! Here's me post-practicum with a Happy Congratulations cake from the husband.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next this year? I did not keep my new year’s resolutions, but I did chip away at the AblazeyDaisy Do list. And I will make more resolutions for 2010.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but I have two girlfriends due with their first in Feb and March of this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and I’m thankful that my grandfather is still with us while he undergoes dialysis.

5. What countries did you visit? Just U.S. trips: Omega Institute in NY, family trips to Florida, music festivals/camping in North Carolina

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Fearlessness.

2010 Mantra: "Love Jesus. Live Fearless. Seek Wisdom. Create Beauty."

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 21-23, Being Yoga Conference at Omega Institute. It was deciding factor that I wanted to complete yoga teacher training.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? See number 1!

9. What was your biggest failure? Not letting the healthy mind/body tools of yoga change me more fully. It’s a process; I’m a process so I’m still working. I’ll continue to do the work, practice, but I thought I’d be farther along than I am.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I dropped a heavy tray on my foot and lost my big toenail. Have you ever tried practicing yoga with a broke-up foot? It’s hard!

11. What was the best thing you bought? Teacher training!

12. Where did most of your money go? Our mortgage will be our largest expense for the next 14.5 years for sure. BUT, at least we have a plan to pay off our beautiful home in ½ the time of the mortgage.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Continuing and deepening my journey with yoga, sharing what I’m learning with others, clarifying how my beliefs as a Christian and the yoga practice are a natural fusion of spirituality in action and communicating same.

14. What song will always remind you of 2009? Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance: Rama-rama-ma!

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? About the same

c) richer or poorer? Richer in friends, love and thankfulness.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of? Jivamukti yoga! I love it!

17. What do you wish you’d done less of? drunk less red wine. Me and tannins don’t agree like we used to.

18. How did you spend Christmas? In Florida with my grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and beloved parents. It was a wonderful Christmas! Here's dad doing guyan mudra at the Christmas table :)

19. Did you fall in love in 2009? I fall in love with my husband over and over again.

20. What was your favorite TV program? Top Chef, Biggest Loser

21. What was the best book you read? Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar

22. What was your favorite film of this year? The Earthlings documentary…not that I enjoyed watching it. It was absolutely awful. But in terms of affecting me, it was profound. The husband and I have cut meat from our diet and are slowly phasing out animal products like eggs and cheese…slowly.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 34 in September and took the day off work to chillax, practiced Jivamukti and attended teacher training that night. The class chanted Om Tryambakam Yajamahe in my honor. Very cool!

24. What kept you sane? Yoga.

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sharon Gannon.

26. Who did you miss? Papa. Still. Always.

27. Who was the best new person you met? The 15 teacher trainees of Pure Prana’s 2009 class and our teachers Natasha & Kathy.

I'll post back with more 2010 thoughts, but it's Zen in 2010 for me. Namaste.